Rodeo Grounds Looking to Expand

Springdale, AR - Rodeo of the Ozarks is ramping up plans for a major expansion at Parson's Stadium.

The stadium is 70 years old this year, but Executive Director Rick Culver says there have been many upgrades and expansions.

Culver says the latest is expected to cost $17 million. The project will include a new entrance to the stadium, adding office space, a museum, a restaurant and meeting rooms that can be rented out. The stadium will also add paved parking, new bleachers and chutes for the livestock.

The last expansion 14 years ago added covered bleachers on the West side, and the new plans call for extending that roof over the entire facility.

“Weather is our biggest factor on everything that we do,” Culver says. “People would like to rent and bring bigger events in, but with not having the roof on they're afraid of the weather.”

The Razorback Greenway will run next to the rodeo grounds, and into the heart of downtown Springdale. Culver hopes the stadium can be a part of the revitalization coming along with trail system.

“They've got some exciting things going on,” he says. “We figure that we can be an anchor for downtown and they can be an anchor for us.”

The Springdale planning board unanimously approved the designs, which are heading to the city council later in May. Culvert says there’s no end date in sight, because the rodeo now needs to find a way to pay for the new additions.

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